AES E-Library

The High Fidelity User Looks at Pickup Design

A good high fidelity pickup must have more than wide frequency response. Low distortion, particularly at high recorded velocities, is vital. Low tracking force is clearly desirable from the standpoint of record and stylus wear, yet this must not be attained at the expense of good tracking of high level passages. Similarly, the desirable qualities of high lateral compliance and low moving mass must not result in an excessively fragile cartridge.: The extent to which these and other properties of a good phono pickup have been achieved in practical commercial pickups will be discussed, together with comments on some of the less desirable compromises, from the standpoint of the user who is basically interested in listening to music rather than keeping abreast of the latest gadgetry.